The young woman from Almeria Marcarena Fernandez it has been proclaimed champion of Spain sub 15 in the modalities of female singles and doubles in the Pontevedra town of Ponteareas.
Macarena Fernández, 14, a player belonging to the Mercapinturas Almería and the municipal sports schools attended the most important event of the season, together with their coach Juan Manuel Fernandez, where he started as one of the favorites to be taken in gold, especially in the individual modality where he started as seed number 1, clear evidence of the good work developed during the season.
On Friday the first rounds were played where Macarena beat the Balearic individually Paula Hernan (21-11 / 21-15). Already in a marathon day on Saturday, Macarena solved up to 6 successful matches to reach the final of both modalities. In individual he took the fast track his matches against the also Balearic Sofia Garcia (21-15 / 21-12) the Castilian-Leon Carmen Carro (21-9 / 21-11) and in a spectacular semifinal to the Galician Alba Prada (21-12 / 21-4). In the female doubles modality with her partner from CB Benalmádena Rocio Martin, where they did not start as seeds, they won in the round of 16 against the Asturian women Olaia Ibisate/Aroa Navarrete (21-13 / 21-8), the quarters against the Galicians Marina González / Noa Martínez (21-16 / 21-8) and the key semis match against the number 1, the Galicians Paula Noya / Alba Prada (21-16/13-21/23-21).
On Sunday morning the finals were played where only 3 players started with the option of doubling gold (Macarena Fernández, Yulien Gil de Ibiza and Raúl Bergua of Huesca). Macarena began her final as a women’s individual against the Sevillian Ángela Jiménez knowing the importance of the match and took advantage from the beginning solving the first set 21-18 and, although the nerves came to light, the Almeria brought out her character and dedication enough to close the final with also 21-18 of the second set. In the women’s doubles final, against the Balearic Islands Victoria Gutierrez / Ainhoa Cabrera came out in a rush and won the first set 21-6, a circumstance that meant great relaxation in the second game that added to the good work of the Balearic Islands meant that the match was gone to the final set after 16-21. In the third set,
Macarena and Rocío they took command of the game again, always going ahead of the scoreboard and finishing the final with a comfortable 21-12.
Macarena, finally established herself in Pontevedra as the best player in Spain in her category being the only one capable of doing a “double” and made history by being the first time that a woman from Almería achieves it, thus adding to the honor roll as champions from Almería after Joaquín Reina in 2011 and Belén Peña in 2016.
Season number 1 of the ranking ends
In addition to getting double gold in the most important competition, the young woman from Mercapinturas from Almeria put the finishing touch to a spectacular season with the number 1 in the Spanish ranking for the first time in his short sporting career. Also highlight the “double” in the Andalusian championship as well as his first international medals (a bronze, three silver and his great gold in the Bulgarian international).
Your technician, Juan Manuel Fernandez Quiles, highlights that despite having been champion of Spain several times as a player, the fact that in his second season as a club coach, his player Macarena has achieved this title, and all those achieved in the year, supposes a special feeling, since it has meant an effort of many months together preparing the appointment with limited resources unlike its rivals where most belong to technification centers.
Once the young Macarena’s season is over, and after a well-deserved rest, it’s time to think about new challenges in the sub 17 category with the 2023 European championship marked in red on the calendar.
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